The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-01-27

1t is perhaps the most serious draw
back to the work of the church in this |
world, that the very argument which the |
church people would use to induce men to
come to Christ and fulfill their duty as
the Church sees that duty, is used by |
mankind as an argument against coming. |
1t is lamentable fact that there is often
dissensiun in the Church, us well as in
the world. 1t is frequently claimed that
there is more, and even this declaration
may have shadow of truth, from the
fact that, when the individual turns from
his or her wicked ways and attempts to
live a life of righteousness before the
world, that person is made a target for
criticism-not only by the world, but we
are sorry to say frequently by the Church
Or rather the members thereof. All
earnest Christians are Jealous and actiye,
and as a natural consequence those who
assume the cloak of Christianity-if there
be such-must make the appearance of
being active and earnest as well. That
some persons give semi-occasional evil
dence of great earnestness, and as rule
leave their lives open to criticism, unfor-
tunately seems to be the fact
We have, then, this difficulty: Ask a
man to unite with the Church, and give
his life and his best effort to Jesus, and
there comes in reply, the troublesome
question, "why should I join Church to
do that ?" With all seriousness we try to
convince him of the many advantages of
concentration of faith, so to speak, a
unity of effort. But he says there is Mr..
Somefellow who is loud in his profession,
but has no better character than 1, and
who is guilty of conduct that I would
scorn to be guilty Of" Right here comes
the recollection of the case of one good
brother in the country, who had unfortu-
nately incurred the displeasure, if not the
absolute ill-will, of another old brother in
the Church. The feeling became some
what heated and bitter. 1t chanced once
upon time-and not many years since
that one of these old brethren, in a pub
lie congregation, began to pray earnestly
for the divine blessing upon the entire
community. Warming up in his petition,
the old brother pleaded, "Oh Lord, take
from our hearts all conceit" The other
old brother-who was bowling in prayer,
but slyly listening, and who had Won
derfully strong, coarse voice, yelled out,
"Amen-take out the conceitw with such
earnestness and vigor that the brother
who was offering up the petition after
ward had him arrested and taken before
a court. Thus there creeps in, almost if
not quite unperceived and unknown, an
evil genius that will cause great trouble
unless put down, once for all.
1t does not take very strong minded
man or woman to discern that there are
many types of human character in the
world There are in the world and out
side of the Church, moral and immoral
men and women. There are and can be
respectable and pleasant members of so
ciety, and possess qualities that attract
Others and that without any seeming eff
fort. On the other hand there are those
who seem to find it impossible to move
above certain low level of morality, or
rather we should say immortality, and no
matter how often they are helped up,
will fall again, and seem to lose by having
been lifted up.
In the. Church we find all types of char
acter, just as in the world-though in the
Church all profess to be going the same
direction, and intent on attaining the
same end. Let us suppose, for purpose OF
illustration, that we are going upon
journey. We travel along carefully, "by
easy stages" and are determined to reach
our destination in safety; we examine
our effects to see that we are fully equip
ped, and if prudent take sufficient appar-
ell along to insure that we shall be not
only fully clad, but neatly and cleanly
clad. AS we pass along the way there
are some who dash swiftly by us; they
are soiled by the mud kicked up by them
selves, and while they may soil us as they
pass, we b ush it aside and pass eadily
on. Along the wayside we find lame, and
halt, and blind, all travelling the same
road, but none going as steadily and care
fully as we. On we go-ah! What is
that? We come in sight of our destina-
ton, and behold our rapid, dashing, mud
throwing friends, loaded down with cling
ing mud, and unable to wash themselves
into a presentable shape So it happens
that when we arrive in safety at our des-
tination, only those who, like ourselves,
have travelled a careful, steady, earnest
pace, have arrived in safety. Many never
arrive. Now. we started out all bound
for the same place, and all travelled the
same road. But many were missed at the
end of the journey.
So it is with the Christisn journey. We
go along the wayne are speaking of
Church people now-and we invite all
mankind to come with US. We admit
that it is somewhat mixed and motley
procession; there are some limping along
the road, scarcely able to keep in sight of
the main procession: others dash along,
determined, seemingly, to be in the front
rank; others again make spasmodic starts,
push along a short distance, and sit down
to rest, or lie down to take a nap; others
still, are those who boldly stand by the
wayside and declare they are going, yet
scarcely make a start. But, friend, you
make the start! 1t will be easy enough |
for you to walk around any poor lame or
blind traveller who refuses to be helped |
along by you. There will be no obstruc-
tions that cannot be surmounted. Then
at last, when the great journey Is ended, |
think you that you will see all who start
ed come struggling into the mansions of
light?
When Christ used the language of our
text-in his Sermon on the Mount--he |
was teaching the people, and warning |
them against wrong professions. In the
same Sermon he warns them to not be as
the hypocrites are when they fast, because
the hypocrites "disfgure their faces, that
men may think they fast. The face is
not to be disfgured. God loves not only
a cheerful face, but clean face. He does